About the Company
Neukord was a German brand that produced reel‑to‑reel tape recorders aimed at the consumer/home market rather than professional recording studios. These machines were part of the wider family of small domestic tape decks that appeared in Europe during the early‑to‑mid 1960s as solid‑state electronics became affordable.
Unlike major reel‑to‑reel manufacturers (e.g., Uher, Revox), Neukord did not develop a large lineup or have extensive documentation — it’s a minor and lightly documented brand in historical directories.
Production History & Era
1960s — Entry Into the Market
Neukord appeared in reel‑to‑reel directories as a producer of solid‑state consumer tape recorders manufactured in Germany.
The brand’s existence corresponds with a period when many smaller European companies offered portable or tabletop tape recorders at budget prices to home users — typically as mono or simple stereo machines.
Target Market
Consumer / Home Recording: Machines branded Neukord were not professional studio decks; they were intended for everyday recording/playback of music, dictation, or amateur audio work.
They generally appear in vintage equipment listings only as one or a few examples rather than a full model catalog, indicating limited production and presence.
Known Model
Only one specific reel‑to‑reel machine linked to this brand is documented in collector records:
Neukord 1
Brand: Neukord
Category: Vintage consumer reel‑to‑reel tape recorder
Electronics: Solid‑state (transistor circuits) — typical of 1960s consumer units.
Track: 1/2 record/playback (full‑track mono or simple stereo).
Tape Speeds: 1 ⅞, 3 ¾, and 7 ½ inches per second — standard choices for versatility.
Reel Size: Up to 7″ diameter.
Head Configuration: Permalloy full‑track (mono).
Voltage: 220–240 V mains operation.
Design: Portable / tabletop format.
This model reflects typical mid‑century European consumer deck specs — transistorized electronics, modest performance, and flexibility across tape speeds.
Manufacturing Context
Germany as Origin
Neukord machines were manufactured in Germany — but there is no clear record of a dedicated “Neukord Company” producing tape recorders over many years. They most likely represent either:
A small independent German electronics firm producing under the Neukord name, or
A rebranding of OEM‑built units sold under the Neukord label — a common practice among smaller European audio brands of the 1960s.
Limited Documentation
Unlike major European brands (e.g., Uher) that have extensive archives and model histories, Neukord appears only sporadically in collector databases without further corporate history.
Only one model entry is shown in the available reel‑to‑reel database, indicating either very limited production or lost historical information.
Market Position & Legacy
Consumer‑oriented: Neukord’s units were likely entry‑level or mid‑range home decks, not designed for professional broadcasting or studio use.
Niche Presence: Because the brand isn’t widely documented or widely exported, it occupies a niche status among vintage collectors — similar to other obscure labels that appeared briefly in the era.
Obscurity: Few surviving machines are known today, and the brand has no rich historical narrative or catalog compared with larger manufacturers.